Tab Combs @DrTCombs@transportation.social

My 10 year old is coping with the on-again-off-again tornado warnings by watching youtube videos of meteorology bloopers.

#NCDOT: consider all roads in #WesternNC closed. The entire transportation is considered impassable. This includes interstates (many of which are completely under water).

#Helene #WNC #weather #flooding

UPDATE: Lake Lure dam is holding for now, though the risk of flash flooding continues.

This is a life threatening emergency. If you are downstream of #LakeLure get to higher ground NOW. Dam failure is imminent

#Helene #FlashFlood

Lake Lure dam is expected to fail any minute. EVACUATE NOW!!!

#Helene

And just back

But stay sheltered, y'all

Tornado warning expired

#ChapelHillNC we are still under a #tornado warning. Seek shelter now and stay put.
#Helene

UNC sirens going off

Power is flickering here in the #ChapelHillNC area. and a tornado warning. later

Rainfall is tapering off in the southernmost parts of the #SouthernAppalachians, but **do not let your guard down -- the worst of the flooding is yet to come.**
Some peaks have received 18 or more inches of rain in the past day and a half. All that water is flowing downhill. #WNC rivers are expected to crest at record-breaking heights, some of them by 10' or more.

#Helene #FlashFlood #flooding

Some good news: the #tornado threat for the western piedmont in #NorthCarolina appears to be over. Rain and wind are still a danger, of course, and flooding especially in the mountains and foothills, and tornadoes are still possible east of the Triad.

#Helene #weather

Downtown #Hendersonville is completely inundated, as is Old Fort, in the foothills.

Again, and I cannot stress this enough -- **if you are anywhere near a body of water, no matter how small, assume it can kill you at any moment.**

The high peaks of the southern appalachians are receiving historic amounts of rain right now. 18" and counting, in some places. That means colossal volumes of water flowing downhill right now. Even if you can't see the #flood, it is coming for you.

#Helene #WNC

Most of the people I've been getting (and relaying) information from regarding conditions in #WesternNC and the #SouthernAppalachians have lost power and internet now.

It's really bad out there, folks. If you can, follow the updates from Ethan at NC Weather Authority on FB and at https://www.ncwxauthority.com/?

For my transportation followers who are confused about my apparent sudden shift of focus, my research and teaching focus is actually on the interactions between mobility and resilience--meaning I have backgrounds natural hazards, resilience, and transport planning.

Normally I just blurt out transportation stuff because it's what we tend to experience on a day to day basis. But normally we're not in the middle of a hurricane.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the state, there are 4 (5?) active #Tornado warnings in eastern #NorthCarolina.

**Western #NC: head for high ground now**
**Eastern #NC: head for low ground now**

Central NC: stay alert because shit is hitting the fan on both sides.

#Helene #WNC #weather #tornadowarning

Downtown Boone is now underwater. Floodwaters are mixing with fuel and chemicals from construction sites in some areas, so in case you needed extra incentive to not enter floodwaters, **do not enter floodwaters because they are likely full of nasty stuff in addition to water**

#Helene #BooneNC #Flooding #WNC #weather

Don't send out deadline reminders during major life threatening disasters challenge